Today, March 18, in the presence of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Kryklii and the Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania Marius Skuodis agreed to cooperate in the development of passenger and freight rail transport and in the development of digital solutions for the exchange of permits for international road transport.

The agreements were signed during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda to Ukraine.

"Lithuania has always been and remains a reliable partner and a good friend of Ukraine. And we are grateful to the Lithuanian side that even in the conditions of a pandemic  we continue to maintain an active dialogue and cooperation. The increase of the volume of container traffic and further liberalization of bilateral and transit road transport are among our key priorities for cooperation. I am glad to welcome the signing of the relevant agreements, which will significantly expand and consolidate this cooperation," Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Kryklii said.

According to him, it will contribute to further volume increase of container freight transportation by the combined transport train "Viking" and "Containerships Train", as well as a competition increase in the transportation of goods by the North-South transport corridor. In addition, the cooperation of both countries in the development of digital solutions for the exchange of permits for international road transport will analyze the legal and technological possibilities of obtaining such permits in electronic format.

In particular, the parties agreed:

• to actively support the project of transportation of semi-trailers on the route Odesa-Klaipeda;

• to promote the continued volume increase of container freight transport by the combined transport train "Viking" and "Containerships Train" and the competition increase in the framework of freight transport by the North-South transport corridor;

• to make efforts to recognize the Ukrainian seaports of the Black Sea as the Southern Gate of Lithuania and the Klaipeda State Seaport as the Northern Gate of Ukraine;

• to determine the need to resume traffic on the railway route "Four Capitals" after quarantine;

• to initiate discussions on the possibility of using digital solutions in the permits issuing procedures for international road transport of passengers and goods;

• to promote the exchange of information and experience between Ukrainian and Lithuanian experts for the analysis of legal and technological opportunities and the formation of the procedure for obtaining e-permits;

• to promote the deepening of cooperation for the exchange of knowledge, experience and vision of effective and rational solutions in the field of railway transport.

Operative information – on our telegram channel https://t.me/vladyslavkryklii.